Photos from around Martin Place in Sydney following the tragic conclusion of the Sydney Siege. Throughout the day, the exclusion has been gradually reduced with roads reopening and a floral memorial has been established in Martin Place. Security has been visibly increased in the CBD's streets with extra police patrols and security guards outside government buildings. A mass was held at the nearby St. Mary's Cathedral for the victims today. Many people have placed flowers at the perimeter of the Martin Place exclusion zone near Channel 7's studios.

Sydney wakes to the grim news that 2 hostages have been killed in the crossfire between police and the gunman identified as Man Haron Monis overnight. Heavily armed police stormed the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place around 2am after a siege of nearly 17 hours also shooting dead the gunman. A number of threats and pleas for help were received overnight with a few of the hostages managing to post messages on social media and send text messages to their families. Several videos have also been circulating online purportedly containing messages by the hostages speaking from inside the Cafe. Their authenticity appears to be genuine but is yet to be confirmed.

Police and paramedics attend to a person on the street as the siege ends. Picture Source: Yahoo/7 News

Gunshots from within the Cafe triggered the police's emergency action plan resulting in officers opening fire and throwing what is believed to be stun grenades into the building. Just a few moments before the gunshots were fired, 7 hostages managed to escape from the cafe. A total of 3 people including the gunman have been killed. The 2 hostages killed during the exchange of fire are a 34 year old man identified as Lindt Cafe Manager Tori Johnson and a 38 year old woman identified as Sydney barrister Katrina Dawson. Several people are currently being treated in hospital including a police officer with a gunshot wound to the face.

Around 2:45am, NSW Police declare the siege to be over although the exclusion zone remains in place. The lone gunman and hostage taker named as Man Haron Monis who is a 50 year old Iranian cleric who moved to Australia in 1998 as a political refugee. He was known to police from previous court appearances including for 'hate mail' against families of deceased Australian soldiers in 2009, being an accessory to a murder in 2013 and a sexual assault case in 2014. The gunman is not believed to be part of any terrorist organisation.

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione addressed the media around 5:30am confirming the results of the police action and the end of the siege. Mike Baird goes on to describe the past 24 hours as "a tragedy none of us could ever have imagined". Andrew Scipione announces that police are now investigating the matter as a "critical incident" and urges people not to cause speculation. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has commended the police for their "courage and professionalism" during the siege in Martin Place. Australian leaders also have called for calm and unity as the nation moves through the situation.

The Australian and NSW flags flown at half mast around Sydney as the nation grieves to the tragedy. Picture Source: @9NewsAUS

9:30am: A woman spots a man carrying a bag with a gun inside walking towards the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. A man leaving the cafe also bumbs into the suspected gunman and is verbally threatened by him.

9:45am: Sydney police are called to the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place on initial reports of an armed robbery. The situation is first reported by Channel 7 which has its studios directly adjacent to the location. Watch the first pictures of the hostage siege in Martin Place.

A woman has spoken of how she was locked out of the Lindt Cafe and her shock as the gunman pointed his shotgun at her from inside the building. A male staff member about to begin his shift also spoke of how he arrived moments after the gunman had held up the Cafe and just before the police arrived on scene.

10am: A heavy police presence is established around the area with surrounding buildings evacuated and parts of the Martin Place precinct put into lock-down. Tactical response and anti-terrorism police officers establish a perimeter around the area. Reports emerge of at least 13 hostages and possibly 2 gunman inside the building.

A gunman forces hostages to stand against the shop windows with their hands up. Some hostages are forced to hold up an Islamic flag initially suspected of being related to ISIS however this was eventually shown to be otherwise. The words on the Islamic Flag roughly translate to "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

10:45am: The Sydney Opera House is fully evacuated on reports of a potential suspicious package and potential for a secondary target for more attackers. Most bus services are being diverted away from Martin Place. Trains have been instructed not to stop at Martin Place station. Air traffic is also rerouted away from the CBD.

11am: Channel 7 have been asked by police to filter their live coverage of the scene for security reasons and to avoid compromising the situation. The media and bystanders are gradually ordered to move further away from the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. The US Consulate issues a message to its citizens in Sydney regarding the siege.

11:30am: Prime Minister Tony Abbott releases a statement on the Martin Place Siege stating that the National Security Committee of Cabinet has been convened regarding the situation. The Prime Minister also offers NSW Premier Mike Baird Commonwealth assistance.

11:45am: Mike Baird releases a statement saying that his thoughts and prayers are with the hostages involved in the siege in Martin Place. The following sites are among those which have been evacuated: The Channel Seven building at Martin Place, the Opera House, NSW parliamentary executive offices,the State Library, the NSW Supreme Court's criminal courts, and several city legal chambers, the Downing Centre and the Art Gallery of NSW.

Police release a statement to outline the exclusion zone and to call for the media to avoid speculation.

12pm: Muslim leaders including Dr. Jamal Rifi publicly condemn the gunman and his actions. The hostage taking is described as a disgrace to Islam and the Islamic community is also praying for the hostages.

12:30pm: People are also urged to stay away from Martin Place by police. A man is arrested near the police line on an unrelated matter.

1pm: Tony Abbott speaks to the media about the siege labeling it "politically motivated violence" and urges people to "go about their business as usual" as well as to report suspicious activity to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.

1:15pm: The Australian Federal Police deny reports that anti-terrorism raids are being carried in the south-western Sydney suburb of Lakemba. Reports of police jamming mobile communications in Martin Place have also been proven to be inaccurate.

1:45pm: Radio broadcaster Ray Hadley reveals that he has made contact with 1 of the hostages inside the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. The gunman is also reported to have demanded to be allowed to speak live on air prompting the radio station not to broadcast any part of the conversation.

2pm: Premier Mike Baird has spoken to the media saying that Sydney is being tested and that he wants us to remain as a democratic society. NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has spoken of the desire for the siege to end peacefully. More police will be deployed if necessary and that Sydney is on a terrorism footing.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper releases a special 2pm edition with the headlines "Death Cult CBD Attack" claiming that IS is behind the taking of 13 hostages in Sydney.

2:45pm: Lindt Australia has released a statement on Facebook thanking everyone for their support and expressing their concerns for staff and customers involved.

3:30pm: Opposition Leader Bill Shorten offers his complete support to the Abbott government and cites the unity of the Australian community in this 'most difficult time'.

4pm: Deputy Police Comissioner Catherine Burn says that the remaining hostages are unharmed and the number of hostages is less than 30 dismissing earlier suggestions of there being up to 50 hostages. Police also confirm that they have contact with the gunman inside the building.

6pm: Tony Abbott has spoken again about the Sydney Siege as a 'disturbing [and] profoundly shocking' incident. The Prime Minister also repeats that Australia is being tested and that Australians have risen to the challenge.

6:30pm: International leaders from the United Kingdom, Canada, the US and India have all expressed their concerns regarding the siege in Sydney. Reports have also emerged claiming that some of the hostages are being fed by Lindt staff from the back kitchen inside the cafe.

6:45pm: Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn has told the media that the siege has entered a delicate phase of negotiation. The exclusion zone around Martin Place is expected to remain in place overnight as police ask media outlets not to reveal the gunman's list demands.

7pm: The Martin Place siege is being treated as a terrorist attack according to police. Task Force Pioneer which is used in relation to terrorism related incidents has been activated by police.

8:15pm: Premier Mike Baird have called on the city to continue with their usual routines tomorrow. Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has refused to answer questions regarding specific tactical operations of the police regarding the siege. Police have also confirmed that there is only one [Martin Place] location for the current incident.